Pirates Acquire Ron Marinaccio in Trade, Designate Dennis Santana for Assignment

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired relief pitcher Ron Marinaccio from the San Diego Padres in a trade, with the Pirates designating right-hander Dennis Santana for assignment to create roster space. San Diego receives international bonus pool considerations in the deal, while Pittsburgh moves forward with what the organization hopes will be a stabilizing addition to its bullpen rotation.

The Marinaccio Addition

Marinaccio, 31, arrives in Pittsburgh as a pitcher with established major league experience but currently struggling through an inconsistent season. Over his career from 2022 through the present, the right-hander compiled 125 1/3 innings with a 3.02 ERA while striking out 28.3 percent of opposing batters. However, this year has proven more challenging, with Marinaccio posting a 4.79 ERA across 47 innings while his strikeout rate has declined to 18.7 percent. His walk rate improved to 8.9 percent this season, down from a concerning 12.3 percent in previous years.

The pitcher is out of options, meaning San Diego could no longer send him to the minor leagues without first offering him to other teams. This limited flexibility made him expendable for the Padres despite his track record. For Pittsburgh, Marinaccio remains controllable for three additional seasons beyond this one, giving the club potential long-term depth. However, his lack of remaining options means he carries risk if his performance does not improve.

Santana's Departure

Santana, 30, departs Pittsburgh after failing to build on a strong 2025 campaign. Last season, the right-hander threw 70 1/3 innings with a 2.18 ERA, posting a respectable 22.2 percent strikeout rate and 6.3 percent walk rate. The Pirates rewarded that performance with a $3.5 million contract tender for 2026, but the investment has not paid dividends.

This year, Santana has struggled to replicate his previous success, compiling a 6.05 ERA over 41 2/3 innings. His strikeout rate fell to 19.9 percent while his walk rate spiked dramatically to 11.3 percent. In July alone, he allowed 10 runs across just 7 1/3 innings, demonstrating a consistency problem that forced Pittsburgh's hand. As a player with sufficient service time, Santana can reject an outright minor league assignment and opt for free agency while retaining his remaining salary obligations if he clears waivers.

Pittsburgh's Aggressive Roster Strategy

The Pirates have pursued multiple bold roster moves recently as the organization attempts to break its postseason drought. This trade represents part of that aggressive approach, though both Marinaccio and the departing Santana present risk alongside their potential reward. The move creates space on both the 26-man and 40-man rosters for Pittsburgh to continue adjusting its roster composition through the remainder of the season.